Overview

Author

Tom Stoppard

First Performed

1993

Type

Play

Genre

Drama

About the Title

Arcadia, Greece, an area once frequented by shepherds, came to be associated with a peaceful and tranquil Utopian life. French artist Nicolas Poussin (1594–1665) painted a landscape with the title "Et in Arcadia Ego," a reference to the poet Virgil that translates in some cases as "Death too is in Arcadia." The painting features shepherds around a tomb. Stoppard's play, a reference to Poussin's painting, also addresses the theme of time as a steady march toward death.

Summary

This study guide and infographic for Tom Stoppard's Arcadia offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.